Fire-escape.



PATENTED JAN. 1'7, 1905.

T. WITHBY.

2 SHEETS-SHEET l.

FIRE ESCAPE.

APPLxoATIoN FILED JULY 3,1903.

PATENTED JAN. 17, 1905. T. WTHEY.

PIRE ESGAPE.

APPLIUATION FILED JULY 3.1903.

2 SHBETSfSHEET 2.

cover, and Fig. 5 is a plan oi' the block.

NTE STATES Patented January 1'7, 1905.

THOMAS WTTHEY, OF LONDON, ENGLAND.

FlREr'ESCAPE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 780,249, dated January 17, 1905.

Application led July 3, 1903. Serial No. 164,177.

T0 all whom t may concern.-

Be it known that I, THOMAS Wrrmir, car man and contractor, a subject of the King of Great Britain and ireland, residing at 4l Seru tton street, Finsbury, E. C., in the city of London, England, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Fire Escapes, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to an improved fireescape; and it consists of apparatus fixed to a building so that it may be always ready for immediate use from any window near which it may be placed.

The apparatus consists of' a tube fixed to and extending from the bottom to the top ot' the building to which it islapplied. The upper end of' the tube is provided with a hori Zontal branch tube, the outer end of which is fitted with a downwardly-extending nipple. Through the said tubes is passed a twisted wire cord, guided over pulleys at the bends and attached at one end to a weight, which in its normal position rests upon the lower end ofthe vertical tube. The other end of the cord is passed through the said nipple, below which it is provided witha chain extending down to the first ioor of the building. The vertical tube is filled nearly to the top with rape-oil or other liquid not easily affect` ed by weather conditions. 1 also provide a sling for passing around the body off the person using the escape, the said sling being fitted with a hook for attaching it to the vertically-suspended chain.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure l is a section of the tubes forming the apparatus fixed to abuilding, and Fig. 2 is an elevation, partly in section, of' the upper portion of the apparatus with the operating-weight in its raised position. Fig. 3 is a section of the metal block or cup. Fig. i is a section oi' its Figs. 6 and 7 are two views, at right angles to each other, of the suspension-sling- Fig. 8 is a side view of the cage or cradle in extended position. Figs. 9 and l() are views, at right angles to each other, of' the brakepand Fig. 1l is an elevation of the apparatus when lixed to the front of a house.

a is the vertical tube, which may be fixed, as

' shown, to the back of a building, its lower end extendingl down into the cellar, area, or other convenient position.

b is the horizontal tube which extends from the tube t across and resting upon the coping of the roof c.

Z is a cross fitted to the end oi the tube I) and overhang-ing the front part of the roof.

e is the nipple screwed to the lower branch of the cross (Z, and f represents packingwashers.

g is the twisted wire cord passing through the tubes, and /t represents the pulleys for guiding said cord around the angles or bends.

is the weight attached to one end of' the cord and resting in its normal state upon the washer .7',which, with the screw-cap r, forms a liquid-tight joint at the lower end of the tube. The other end of' the cord passes through and extends a little below the nipple c, where itis connected to a chain l, which extends down to the first floor of the building, the said chain being kept within reaching distance of a ver* tical line off windows, at the side of' same, by means ol? hooks or staples fixed to the wall.

on is a metal block or cup `formed with vertical passages, as shown in Figs. 3 and 5, and through the center of' which is threaded the cord g, which is formed with a knot below the block m to hold the latter in place above the weight il. The block m is dish-shaped at its top to receive the cover fn., also formed with vertical passages, but of a less diameter than those ofthe block,and threaded centrally upon the cord The latter is provided with another knot, o, a short distance above the block, so as to limit the upward movement of the cover a and to support a disk p, between which and another disk, q, is arranged a coiled spring 'i'.

s is a wooden plug or block held in the tube by a metal washer t and provided with a leather washer u, through which and the plug and a screw nut e the cord passes and is guided. The cord is also :further guided by wood plugs or blocks w, fixed in the tube and through which it passes.

g is an angle-joint fixed to the upper end of tube a and fitted with a screw-plug for 'feeding the oil into the said tube, and e is a cock IOO at the bottom of the tube for letting out the oil.

The suspension-slingA is preferably formed of leather, with a wire passing centrally therethrough and coiled at the end to form a loop for the swivel-link B to strengthen the sling.

To the link B is attached a hook C for engagement with the chain Z, and D is a tightening-link attached to the other end of the sling. Instead of the said sling the cage or cradle shown in Fig. 8 may be used, the same consisting of a board or plate E, to the bottom of which are fixed chains F, connected together by two or more hoops G and surrounded by a canvas covering H, the whole being' slung by chains from a cross-bar I, provided with a hook J for attaching it to the suspension-chain.

The cord g may be regulated in its travel by means of a brake, consisting of two wooden blocks K L, Figs. 9 and 10, carried by the arms M, pivoted to a cross-bar N, screwed to the plug in the top of the cross eZ. The cord passes between the inclined meeting edges O of the blocks, and the latter are kept apart by springs P, carried on bolts Q.

R represents double wires passing over pulleys S and connected to one of the blocks for drawing the latter together when the wires are pulled.

Vhen using the apparatus, the person wishing to escape from any of the windows contiguous to the suspension-chain Z draws the latter toward him after having passed the sling A around his body, so as to support him under the armpits, with the hook C in front. He then attaches the said hook to one of the links of the chain and lowers himselfl from the window, at the same time holding' onto the wires R, which descend as far as the chain, thus drawing the blocks K L together, so as to grip the cord g for breaking or regulating the descent. The weight z' rising through the oil in the tube L and the oil passing down through the small passages in the cover n tends also to balance and regulate the descent. As soon as the person reaches the ground he detaches the sling from the chain, allowing the latter to be drawn up to the top-floor window by the descent oi' the weight z', the larger passages of the block m permitting of the quicker passage of the oil through the same and the consequent quicker rise of the chain Z than in descending. The apparatus is then ready for the descent of another person vfrom the topfioor window or from any other window within reach of the chain Z. Fig. 2 shows the weigl' z' in its raised position and the spring r con` pressed, so as to prevent any sudden shock on reaching the ground.

In Fig. 1l, which shows the apparatus fixed to the front ot' a house, the tube Z projects only a short distance from the tube a toward the window T and is supported by the rod or chain U, acting as a stay. The sling A or the cage or cradle may then bel easily attached to the chain Z for descent of any person or persons from the said window or windows beneath the same.

The apparatus may be fixed either outside or inside a building contiguous to any of' the windows, and several slings or cages should be kept ready for use at each window.

Having now fully described the nature of my said invention, what I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

In a fire-escape the combination of a vertical tube extending from the top to the bottom of a building, a horizontal branch tube at the upper end of the same, a viscid Huid partly filling the vertical tube, a wire cord passing over guide-pulleys through said tubes, a bal-- ance-weight suspended loosely in the verticaltube from one end of said cord, a sling or cradle suspended from the other end of the cord, a perforated block fixed to the cord, a perforated cap sliding' on the cord above the block, a coiled spring fitted to the cord for preventing shocks, and a brake comprising two blocks pivoted to the end of the horizontal branch tube and formed with inclined meeting edges, springs for keeping said blocks apart, and double wires acting upon the blocks to draw them together when pulled for gripping the cord between the blocks, substantially as described.

In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand in the presence of two witnesses.

THOMAS VVITHEY. IVitnesses:

FREDERICK MIcAH MELLoR, JOHN JAMES ROWLEY. 

